Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real: Willie Nelson’s son gets his band back off Neil Young

A quick catch-up lest anyone hasn't been paying attention. Lukas is a son of Willie. Having a famous father probably didn't hurt when Neil Young gave POTR (they use the acronym) a leg-up in the recognition stakes (they were already four-album veterans) by enlisting them as his recording and touring band. Anybody doubting his wisdom should check out Young's recent work or, even better, sample this confident, expressive, muscular 12-track salute to classic southern rock. The music often rekindles memories of Little Feat, but POTR's retro brand of country/rock/funk/soul sounds both fresh and infectious. Nelson wrote and sings all the songs, which vary from the soulful Set Me Down On A Cloud to the countrypolitan Just Outside of Austin. His lean, elegant guitar colours each track and, surprisingly, Lady Ga Ga (Find Yourself) and, unsurprisingly, his dad (If I Started Over) help out. promiseofthereal.com